Apparatus for dispensing film-like thin strips of food- or refreshment-stuff

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for the dispensing of film-like thin strips consisting of food- or refreshment-stuff from a packaging container, which is having a box-shaped bottom member containing a stack of the film-like thin refreshment-stuff-strips and further a cover closing the bottom member. The cover for opening and closing a dispensing slot or ?opening is reciprocably slidable with respect to the bottom member. At the cover there is provided an actuatable gripping means by the means of which a friction-type connection can be created between the cover and the top film-like strip. The friction-type connection is such that during the closing movement of the cover the top film-like strip of the stack is pushed forward through the dispensing slot from the bottom member.

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for the dispensing of film-like thin strips of food- or refreshment-stuff from a packaging container, wherein the packaging container is having a box-shaped bottom part containing a stack of the film-like thin refreshment strips and a cover closing the bottom member.

[0002] The products packed in such apparatus are, for example, very thin small sheets of a size of about 23×35 mm and a thickness of about {fraction (2/100)} mm, which, for example, are consisting of a gelatinized mouth-wash or other refreshment products. Such an apparatus of the above defined kind is a plastic container which in its lid is having a flap articulated in a film-hinge by the means of which a part of the surface of the top strip of the stack in the container can be exposed which then by the means of a finger can be advanced through the dispensing opening opened thereby. This known construction has the disadvantage that in any case the contact between the refreshment stuff and the finger of the user has to be made which not only is comparatively burden-some but additionally is extremely unsanitary and is excluding to offer such a strip to any third person.

[0003] The invention has for its task to improve an apparatus of the above defined kind such that a dispensing of the refreshment strips from the packaging container can be made without making a direct contact with the strip.

[0004] According to the invention, this task basicly is solved by the features that the cover for opening and closing a dispensing slot or ?opening is reciprocably slidable with respect to the bottom member and that at the cover there is provided an actuatable gripping means by the means of which a friction-type contact can be made between the top film-like strip and the cover, such that during the closing movement of the cover the top film-like strip of the stack is pushed forward from the bottom member through the dispensing slot.

[0005] It is obvious that in this way no contact between the fingers of an user and the film-like strip is made but instead the strip merely by the reciprocal movement of the cover is pushed out from the packaging and can directly transferred into the mouth or can be offered to any third person.

[0006] A preferred embodiment according to the invention can be created by the features that the gripping means is performed as a region elastically deflectable by thumb-pressure from the plane of the cover downwardly into contact with the stack of strips in the bottom part.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the front wall of the bottom member in the direction of the dispensing opening is archedly extending upwardly and is forming a guide for the strips. By this it is achieved that the extremely thin strips during their advancement are not getting stuck and cannot fold but instead smoothly are pushed outwardly from the dispensing opening in a direction slightly upwardly.

[0008] In detail, this advantageously can be improved by the feature that the dispensing opening is performed between the front edge of the cover displaced in the opening direction and the top edge of the front wall of the bottom member.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment according to the invention there is provided that the elastically deflectable region is positioned within a thumb-depression or thumb-section in the material of the cover. By this and especially with the small size of the apparatus according to the invention, the operation thereof is improved again since only by feeling the gripping means can be found.

[0010] It is further of advantage that at least the cover is consisting of plastics. By this, a simple and cheap production of the packaging container including the gripping means is possible.

[0011] An especially preferred embodiment according to the invention can be created by the feature that the deflectable region is consisting of a wave-shaped section of the cover which upwardly is projecting from the plane of the cover and which resiliently can be depressed below said plane.

[0012] In this connection it is further preferred that the wave-shaped section is consisting of two wave sections projecting from the plane of the cover upwardly which compared with the wall thickness of the cover are having a decreased wall thickness, that between the two wave sections at least a third wave section is provided extending downwardly which is having an increased wall thickness steadily increasing to the deepest point. By these features it is possible to produce the cover with the gripping means as a unitary piece and at low costs.

[0013] Followingly it is preferred to produce the cover and the gripping section from the same material.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment according to the invention the gripping section is produced from a material different from the material of the cover, for example, of rubber which without difficulties can be done in the same injection moulding mould.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment according to the invention it is provided that the deflectable region is formed by a dome-shaped section of the cover which by the means of film hinges is connected with the cover and which is projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover and can be depressed into said plane and that the dome-shaped section is having a ledge projecting downwardly in the direction of the stack of film-like strips which when depressing is making contact with the top strip of the stack. By these features, too, all the advantages of the invention are achieved.

[0016] In all embodiments according to the invention it is further preferred that the bottom member on the exterior thereof is having gripping ledges or studs opposite to the deflectable region. By this the operation of the apparatus according to the invention additionally is improved.

[0017] In the following, the invention is more detailedly described with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings show:

[0018]FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first embodiment according to the invention in an increased scale;

[0019]FIG. 2 a schematic cross-section of the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in the closed state;

[0020]FIG. 3 a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the apparatus in the completely opened state;

[0021]FIG. 4 a view corresponding to FIG. 3 during the actuation of the gripping means;

[0022]FIG. 5 the apparatus according to FIGS. 1 to 4 when pushing out a film-like strip;

[0023]FIG. 6 a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment according to the invention in the closed state;

[0024]FIG. 7 the embodiment according to FIG. 6 during the actuation of the gripping means and during the pushing forward of a film-like thin strip;

[0025]FIG. 8 a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 6 of an alternative embodiment;

[0026]FIG. 9 the embodiment according to FIG. 8 during the actuation of the gripping means and during the pushing forward of a strip;

[0027]FIG. 10 a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment according to the invention in the closed state;

[0028]FIG. 11 the embodiment according to FIG. 10 during the pushing forward of a strip, and

[0029]FIG. 12 a top view of the embodiment according to FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0030] In the following description of the different embodiments according to the invention for the same or similar parts and details each the same reference numerals had been used.

[0031] Firstly, it is referred to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the apparatus generally designated with 1 is serving to dispense film-like thin strips of food- or refreshment-stuff as these recently are obtainable on the market. These food- and refreshment-stuff are extremely thin strips of a thickness of about {fraction (2/100)} mm, wherein these typically are having dimensions of about 23×35 mm. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the first embodiment of the apparatus 1 is consisting of a packaging container 2 in which a stack 4 of such extremely thin film-like strips 6 are contained. The packaging container 2 is having a bottom member 8 and a cover 10 closing the same.

[0033] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5 the cover 10 for opening and closing a dispensing slot or a dispensing opening 12 is reciprocably slidable in guides not especially shown. On the cover 10 there is provided a gripping means generally designated with 14 which is actutable by finger-pressure by the means of which a friction-type contact can be established with the top strip 6 of the stack 4 such that in case the cover 10 had been slid backwardly and the gripping means 14 has been actuated during the forwardly sliding of the cover 10 during this closing movement of the cover 10 the top strip 6 of the stack 4 is pushed forwardly through the dispensing slot 12 from the bottom member 8 as this is shown in a final state in FIG. 5.

[0034] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5, the gripping means 14 is formed as an elastically deflectable region 16 which by means of the pressure with the thumb or a finger can be pressed from the plane of the cover 10 downwardly into contact with the stack 4 of strips as this is shown in FIG. 4. After releasing the deflectable region 16 due to its elasticity the same returns to the state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0035] In all embodiments according to the invention, the front wall 18 of the bottom member 8 is formed to be archedly extending in the direction of the dispensing opening such that the front wall 18 is forming a guide for the strips 6 during pushing them out from the bottom part 8 since the dispensing opening 12 or the dispensing slot 12 is formed between the front endge 20 of the cover 10 displaced in the opening direction and the top edge 22 of the front wall 18 of the bottom part.

[0036] Further in all embodiments according to the invention at least the cover 10 is consisting of a suitable artificial resin such that it is possible to form the deflectable region 16 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5 in a unitary way by corresponding design of the transitions to the deflectable region 16 and the wall thicknesses in this area.

[0037] To facilitate the finding of the deflectable region 16 by feeling it is preferred in all embodiments that the elastically deflectable region 16 is positioned within a thumb-depression 24 or a suitable thumb-section in the material of the cover.

[0038] The embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7, in the main part of the details is corresponding to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5, wherein merely the gripping means 14 or the deflectable region 16, respectively, is designed differently.

[0039] As shown, the deflectable region 16 is consisting of a wave-shaped section 26 of the cover 10 which, as shown in FIG. 6, is projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover 10 in the state of rest with the container being closed. The elastically deflectable region 16 is, as with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5, resiliently displaceable below the plane of the cover 10 to establish the friction-type contact with the top strip 6 of the stack 4 as this is shown in FIG. 7 to push the same out through the dispensing slot 12 when slidingly closing the cover 10.

[0040] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7, the wave-shaped section 26 is produced unitarily from the same articifial resin as the cover 10 and is consisting of two wave sections 28 and 30 projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover 10, which for increasing the elasticity and for facilitating the depressing are having a wall thickness which is decreased compared with the wall thickness of the cover 10. Between the two wave sections 28 and 30 at least a third wave section 32 is provided which is running downwardly with respect to the wave sections 28 and 30. The wave section 32 is having an increased wall thickness which is steadily increasing in the direction of its deepest point 34. Followingly, the downwardly directed wave section 32 in fact is forming the active constituent of the gripping means 14 which establishes the contact with the top strip 6 of the stack 4 while the latter when closing the cover 10 by sliding is pushed out from the dispensing slot 12.

[0041] The embodiment according to FIGS. 8 and 9 in all details is corresponding to the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 and 7, wherein the only difference is consisting in the fact that the wave-shaped section 26 is manufactured from a material different from the material of the cover 10, wherein such material for example can be silicon rubber or rubber, wherein further with respect to the function of the three consecutive wave sections 28, 30 and 32 there are no differences.

[0042] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 10 to 12 again merely the gripping means 14 is differently designed such that with respect to further details it can be referred to the above specification. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 10 to 12, the elastically deflectable region 16 of the gripping means 14 is formed as a dome-shaped section 36 which by film- hinges 38 or the like is connected with the remaining material of the cover 10. The dome-shaped section 36 in the resting state shown in FIG. 10 is projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover. To achieve the friction-type contact with the top strip 6 of a stack 4 in the bottom member 8 the dome-shaped section can be pressed into the plane of the cover 10, wherein the dome-shaped section 38 additionally has a ledge 40 projecting downwardly in the direction of the stack 4 which during the depressing of the dome-shaped section 38 is contacting the top strip as this is shown in FIG. 11.

[0043] In FIGS. 10 and 11 further a detail is shown which can be used with all other embodiments. As shown, the bottom member 8 on its exterior is having gripping ledges or gripping studs 42 opposite to the deflectable region 16 which are facilitating in the operation of the apparatus 1 by giving a safe grip on the bottom member 8 during closing the cover 10 by pushing.

[0044] For the sake of completeness, it is referred to the fact that corresponding formations as the ledge 14, e.g. in the shape of ribs or studs or the like, can be provided in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 9 in a corresponding position opposite to the stack 4 to increase the friction between the deflectable region 16 and the top strip 6 of a stack 4.

[0045] Above some embodiments according to the invention had been more detailedly described which should serve as an example for the basic idea of the invention which is seen in the fact to provide a container for the described use which during the closing movement by pushing when actuating a gripping means on the cover is pushing out part of its contents.

[0046] All features and advantages which can be learnt from the spefication, the claims and the drawings including constructive details and positions in space individually and in a deliberate combination can be important for the invention. 

1. Apparatus for the dispensing of film-like thin strips consisting of food- or refreshment-stuff from a packaging container, wherein the packaging container is having a box-shaped bottom member containing a stack of the film-like thin refreshment-stuff-strips and further a cover closing the bottom member, characterized in that the cover (10) for opening and closing a dispensing slot or opening (12) is reciprocably slidable with respect to the bottom member (8) and, in that at the cover (10) there is provided an actuatable gripping means (14) by the means of which a friction-type connection can be created between the cover (10) and the top film-like strip (6), such that during the closing movement of the cover (10) the top film-like strip (6) of the stack (4) is pushed forward through the dispensing slot (11) from the bottom member (8).
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (14) is performed as a region (16) elastically displaceable by thumb-pressure downwardly from the level of the cover (10) into contact with the stack (4) in the bottom member (8).
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the front wall (18) of the bottom member (8) is extending in the direction of the dispensing opening (12) archedly and upwardly and is forming a guide for the strips (6).
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the dispensing opening (12) is performed between the front edge (20) of the cover (10) when displaced in the opening direction and the top edge (22) of the front wall (18) of the bottom member (8).
 5. Apparatus according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the elastically deflectable region (16) is positioned within a thumb-depression or section (24) within the material of the cover (10).
 6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the cover (10) is consisting of plastics.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the deflectable region (16) is consisting of a wave-shaped section (26) of the cover (10), which is projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover (10) and which resiliently can be depressed below said plane.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the wave-shaped section (26) is consisting of two wave sections (28, 30) projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover (10) which are having a decreased wall thickness compared with the wall thickness of the cover (10) and, in that between said two wave sections (28) at least a third wave section (32) running downwardly is provided, which is having an increased wall thickness steadily increasing to the lowest point (34) thereof.
 9. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastically deflectable region (16) is consisting of the same material as the cover (10).
 10. Apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the elastically deflectable region (16) is consisting of a material different from the material of the cover (10) as for example silicon rubber, rubber or the like.
 11. Apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 6 and 10, characterized in that the deflectable region (16) is formed by a dome-shaped section (36) of the cover (10) which by the means of film-hinges (38) is connected with the cover (10) and which is projecting upwardly from the plane of the cover (10) and is depressable into said plane and, in that the dome-shaped section (38) is having a ledge (40) projecting downwardly in the direction of the stack (4) of strips (6) which during the depression is contacting the top strip (6) of the stack (4).
 12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom member (8) on the exterior thereof is having gripping ledges or studs (42) opposite to the deflectable region (16). 